Normally people went quiet when we explained it, like they were trying to figure it out or were uncomfortable discussing it, but Townsends were unpredictable, which was proven when Cole nodded and said, “A friend of our family in Gonzales County has white parents but she’s black. They did DNA tests on her and it’s something to do with DNA related phenomenon called atavism, which is when a dormant gene from centuries ago reactivates itself and becomes a dominant one.”
“Holy shit. Is she hot?” Reid asked, rubbing his hands together.
Taking a quick look at his brother, Ren snickered, “She’s our cousin’s.” Making Reid sit back in his chair like he was disappointed.
I knew the Townsend family well and I’d heard all about Archer and Bonnie. I wasn’t sure if I’d say she was his, but with how determined the Townsend species was, I didn’t doubt he’d make sure that it ended up being the case.
“So, who’s Katy Crew?” Canon asked, bringing up a subject that I’d hoped would stay buried after our trip down DNA lane.
“She’s the hot chick who lives next door,” Cole grinned, winking at me. “And she works with Jarrod, too.”
Looking at each other, Bond and Canon stood up and made their way to the window that faced out the front of the house.
“Exactly how hot is hot?” Bond asked over his shoulder.
Holding his hands up in front of him, Ren shook his head. “I’m her boss so I can’t talk.”
“I can,” Cole offered. “Out of ten she’s a twenty. Petite, beautiful face, brunette hair, long, bangs that go like this,” he moved his hand in a sweep across one eye. “She’s got that innocent doe vibe about her, teamed with the slightly nerdy chick.”
“That’s fucking hot,” Reid mumbled as he got up and went to join them at the window.
“Yeah,” Cole nodded. “And even better, she doesn’t fucking know it.”
By the time he was done, I’d peeled the label off my bottle and was getting ready to throw it at one of their heads – the bottle, not the label - mainly Cole’s.
“You hitting that, J?” Reid asked, his attention focused on the road in front of the house.
That’s when I got up and was across the room before they knew it. Grabbing Reid by the collar of his t-shirt, I pulled him behind me. “Don’t talk about her like that, asshole,” I growled, letting him go and pointing at the chairs. “Sit your ass down.”
I was about to give the same order to Bond and Canon, when Canon ran to the door, opened it, and was outside before I could stop him. Following behind him was Bond who glared at me before he cleared it. “You lucky bastard!”
“Ah, it appears she’s home,” Cole informed me unnecessarily from where he was now standing at the window Reid had been looking out of. “And it appears she has company.”
KatyHow had this happened? I mean, I knew how it had happened – eye contact – but how. This morning I’d been so close to death that the grim reaper had added me to his Christmas card list, now I was walking toward my door with my new dog. Oh, and that dog was a freaking Great Dane.
How. Did. This. Happen?
Dave figured I weighed the same as my dog - which he’d imparted when he’d helped me get Duke in the back of the vehicle - and I wasn’t sure he wasn’t close to the truth on that one. I’d decided on a little dog and come out with a horse, who I’m pretty certain was walking me across the grass in front of my house.
I was so screwed.
“The girls say they’re ten minutes out,” Tabby told me, walking behind me with Dave who was carrying their daughter. “I told them while we were in there that whatever they got needed to be suitable for a dog the size of Dave, but they didn’t believe me until I sent them the photo of him sitting on top of you on the floor while you filled in the form.”
That was the other problem, the second I’d sat down Duke had wanted to sit on me. With anyone else he was happy to sit on the floor or just walk around, but not with me. I had a Dane who thought he was a lapdog.
Did I say I was screwed?
Looking down at the front page of the pack the center had given me about him, I looked over the behavioral and mannerism observations section of it, worried that maybe they’d missed something when we’d gone through it all there. None of it was new news, including where it said he had excessive excitement and obsession with playing with a ball. As the poor guy had been neutered, I assumed it was actual game balls and not his own so maybe he was compensating?